Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

A cracking novice hurdle in prospect with an almost Graded feel to it, and the one that stands out with the potential to mix it against a higher standard later in the season is ARTICULUM (NAP) (best price 9-4). A proper stamp of a horse with an engine and cruising speed to match, Terence O’Brien’s inmate couldn’t have been any more impressive the way he dismantled his rivals at Cork last time out and given that performance came off the back of a 571-day layoff, it really was some display by this imposing eight-year-old. A top-class bumper horse until injury intervened two years ago, the son of Definite Article is clearly out to make up for lost time and with the race likely to be run at a sound gallop courtesy of Beyond The Law and Sympa Des Flos in the line-up, this former point-to-point winner should relish the examination paper at hand.

NO APPROVAL (best price 5-1) was probably bough specifically for his new trainer’s daughter to ride, and having shaped as though it was very much a case of ‘getting to know you’ at Lingfield last week, the duo can make a splash in this seemingly much weaker race. Having his first outing for David Bridgwater since leaving his Irish base off the back of two straight wins at Dundalk, the son of Approve was probably a little too keen and fresh for his own good in the early stages at the Surrey venue and, as a result, paid for those exertions in the final furlong. More favourably drawn this afternoon rather than being stuck out on the wing nine days ago, a well-run seven furlongs shouldn’t prove any bother for this improving five-year-old and he makes of each-way appeal at the prices. 

LAZURUS (best price 11-4) has yet to win a race in eight starts, but his fortunes have taken a turn for the better since he’s been switched to the all-weather surfaces so there’s a decent chance he can break his maiden tag this afternoon. Runner-up to Black Dave at Lingfield two starts ago, Amy Murphy’s inmate backed up that effort with an eye-catching display at Kempton last time out, coming from a seemingly impossible position three furlongs out to grab a slice of the pie close home. On the evidence of those two recent performances, the Zoffany gelding is clearly suited by a reasonable test and provding he can work himself into a decent challenging position off the home turn, he’s every chance of gunning down his opposition in the straight.